Reps: Department Of Justice Should Respect Wash., Colo. Pot Vote - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

Reps: Department Of Justice Should Respect Wash., Colo. Pot Votes

Posted: Updated:

SEATTLE (AP) - A group of lawmakers is urging the Justice Department to respect recent votes in Colorado and Washington state allowing the recreational use of marijuana, and some have introduced a bill to ensure that happens.
    
Democratic U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette of Colorado says her bill would bar the federal government from blocking state marijuana laws. Several other lawmakers have signed on, including Republican Rep. Mike Coffman of Colorado. Coffman says he opposes his state's measure, but he's obligated to respect the will of the voters.
    
So far, no Washington lawmakers have signed on.
    
Washington and Colorado each voted to set up state-licensed stores where pot will be sold and taxed to adults over 21.
    
That could conflict with federal pot prohibition, and the DOJ could sue to block the licensing schemes. The DOJ hasn't said how it will respond.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

  • Most Popular StoriesMost Popular Stories

  • Saturday, January 12 2013 1:32 AM EST2013-01-12 06:32:20 GMT
    SPOKANE, Wash. - After months of secrecy, new documents first released to KHQ reveal an intricate and complex investigation into several Spokane spas which law enforcement believes were fronts prostitution rings.
    SPOKANE, Wash. - After months of secrecy, new documents first released to KHQ reveal an intricate and complex investigation into several Spokane spas which law enforcement believes were fronts prostitution rings.

  • KAMIAH, Idaho. - A North Idaho woman's drive along the Lochsa River earlier this month turned into a nightmare after she was impaled through her neck by a tree limb.
    KAMIAH, Idaho. - A North Idaho woman's drive along the Lochsa River earlier this month turned into a nightmare after she was impaled through her neck by a tree limb. Twenty-year-old Michelle Childers and her husband, 22-year-old Daniel Childers, were taking a recreational drive along the Lochsa River on September 5. Michelle says they had driven down a dead end road and were on their way back out when, somehow, a limb from a spruce tree came through the passenger window and impaled her neck.

  • Friday, May 17 2013 10:55 PM EDT2013-05-18 02:55:49 GMT
    COURT DOCUMENTS: An unidentified woman indicated to investigators that Spokane Police Officer Jeff Graves raped her.
    COURT DOCUMENTS: An unidentified woman indicated to investigators that Spokane Police Officer Jeff Graves raped her. The woman claims Graves used the GPS location provided on Facebook messages to figure out where she lived. The woman claims Graves eventually began showing up at her work place, too. She says he arrived at her home and work many times. READ THE FULL DETAILS INSIDE OF THE STORY>>>